Since 8 years ago, i’ve been ever so crazy over Japanese culture, and have also from that crazy side of me picked up Japanese, travel to that oh-so-holy place at least once every year. Yes, i’m really that crazy.
I’ve often been asked what about Japan do i like. And i am sure my answer wont differ much from other Japanese fanatics like me. Firstly, i must say its the language. i fell in love with the language cause of the way its being said, it sounds very soft and flowing, almost like musical bells to my ears. I’m comparing this with chinese and cantonese and hokkien, so yea… japanese is definitely way way way way softer than those. At the same time, i like the culture. Culture in terms of… the ethics? social ethics. i never fail to be amazed by how the citizens are able to pick up after themselves when they are done eating, how they keep their little litter in their bags when they can’t find any dustbins, how recycling bins are common, how even at starbucks and mcdonalds you need to separate the covers and the cups and the straws into different sections at the “dustbin area” for recycling purposes!
of course i must say the country is beautiful in its own ways, with nature mixed with old buildings. Here in singapore, there are old buildings but most of the parts are modernized and there isn’t any specific culture here since we are a multi-racial society, you see everything everywhere. unlike in japan, you see the stereotypical houses that seem to be a scene from a manga or a japanese drama. i love how at the countryside you see alleys and roads as well as houses as though they were something that i read in a manga a few days ago (yes, i read manga every day… it’s also part of my job).
i’ve been trying to steer clear of this craze of mine in my blog here, but i guess… i can’t!!! it’s been a part of me since the past few years and the music and the culture is all mixed in with my blood now. haha
lastly… i love the food. Sapporo ramen and enoki mushrooms!!! salmon sashimi’ good love too, though they can be quite costly.
to describe what i’ve been trying to say, i’d post some pictures here taken in my travels to that “holy-place” for my your enjoyment!
Seaview from Naoshima – an island for the Arts in shikoku
View from Wakayama Adventure World – a theme park in Wakayama, Kansai
road at Tottori – have no idea where is this place.. kansai?
Tokyo – somewhere near the Skytree
Yokohama- yes.. that’s the famous ferris wheel you see often in dramas!
Sapporo Ramen!
more ramen!
look at the amount of enoki!!!!! this was at a shabu shabu restaurant in Shinjuku, Tokyo
AND MORE RAMEN!!
This was at Hokkaido, in Hell Valley
the residential side of Shinjuku, Tokyo
Kyoto, Kansai
sorry about the finger! this was at Hiroshima, kyuushuu
The famous Nara Park, Nara – Kansai
Temple at Nara
Kyoto, Kansai
i love how their train timings are accurate to the minute
Mt Fuji, taken at Hakone in a cable car!
more of Hakone
okay, this will be the last pic of Hakone!
went to a Butler cafe in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. It was a great experience, and i would encourage people to go if they get a chance, though a 2 week in advance reservation needs to be made. and as you can see, on the day that we went, it’s fully booked for the whole day!
(pictures all taken by me using an iPhone 4, explains poor quality most of the time, if the quality is better, then it will be the Samsung Galaxy Note II, and if its in even better quality, then it means i’ve used the Samsung EX1)
